Acne can be an extremely annoying affliction. It creates unsightly and irritating bumps on our skin. Acne can be found on any part of a person’s body, including their scalp. It also occasionally causes scarring and permanent damage to your skin. With the stakes so high, it is essential that you find the best acne treatment on the market. It’s a good thing that we’ve included just that information in this article and provided answers to all of your more pressing questions about what causes acne breakouts.
Contents
- 1 What is Acne?
- 2 What Causes Acne
- 3 How To Prevent Acne
- 4 What is An Acne Treatment?
- 5 Who can Use Acne Treatments?
- 6 Are Acne Treatments Safe?
- 7 Do I need an acne treatment?
- 8 What To Look For in An Acne Treatment
- 9 Ingredients
- 10 Number of Products
- 11 Size
- 12 Proven results
- 13 Side effects
- 14 Pros and Cons of Acne Treatments
- 15 Top Five Best Acne Treatments 2020—Comparison table
- 16 Top Five Best Acne Treatments 2020—Reviews
- 17 How To Use Your Acne Treatment
- 18 Skin Care Tips and Tricks
- 19 Final Words
What is Acne?
First of all, let’s discuss acne. Acne is actually an inflammatory skin condition. It is more commonly found on the face, neck, shoulder, back, and chest. What happens is the oil glands of your hair follicles get clogged and then become infected. This causes acne’s distinctive bump to form.
There are many different types of acne depending on where the bumps appear on your skin. But, no matter the type or severity of the acne breakout, there is always a chance of scarring or other skin damage. For this reason, it is important never to pick at your acne.
What Causes Acne
Unfortunately, your question of what causes acne breakouts doesn’t have a great answer. There are a lot of different causes of acne. The majority of people who get acne are teenagers, and this likely has to do with the hormonal changes that happen in our bodies during this time. But, what causes acne in adults is less certain.
Doctors do know that acne is influenced by a strain of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (or P. acnes). P. acnes lives on our skin and can invade the plugged hair follicle. Some experts believe that the severity of your acne—and what triggers acne—depends on the strain of P. acnes.
Other causes of acne include some medications, certain cosmetics, stress, and menstruation in women. Almost all of these factors produce hormonal changes that can create an ideal environment for P. acnes to become a problem. Unlike the old wives’ tale, doctors now know that there are likely no foods that cause acne.
A final factor in some people’s propensity for acne breakouts is genetics. Genetics might determine what strain of P. acnes you have on your skin, which is what causes acne.
How To Prevent Acne
1 Wash your face and body well every day.
2 Use products designed for your skin type—oily, dry, or combination.
3 Drink a lot of water.
4 Stay away from foods that will spike your blood sugar, such as cola, chips, or sweets. (This prevention method has been used for generations but is not supported by as many studies as the others on this list.)
5 Find a great acne treatment.
What is An Acne Treatment?
Acne treatment is any product that treats acne breakouts. Most people use over-the-counter acne treatments. But, you can also get a prescription from a dermatologist. All acne treatments have at least one ingredient that treats the condition—more on these ingredients below.
There are a lot of different acne treatments on the market. Some are stand-alone treatments, and some come in sets of cleansers, spot treatments, and moisturizers. The type of acne treatment that you choose will depend on your own personal preferences, the severity of your acne, and your skincare routine. It may take a couple of tries, but with a little patience, you will find the acne treatment for adults or teenagers that will work for your unique skin.
Who can Use Acne Treatments?
Acne treatments can be used by anyone. If you have extremely sensitive skin, make sure that you purchase an acne treatment designed for that. Some of the substances in acne treatments are too harsh for sensitive skin. Otherwise, acne treatments are safe for the majority of the population.
Are Acne Treatments Safe?
The best thing you can do to keep your skin safe is to start small and follow the instructions on the acne treatment. Most dermatologists caution against using too many different acne treatment products at once, especially when you are beginning the regimen. This can over-stimulate and dry out your skin. Since irritated skin is what triggers acne, this can produce the opposite of your intended effect.
You also want to ensure that you are following the acne treatment’s instructions carefully. It may be tempting to use the product three or four times a day. That should be how to prevent acne, right? Wrong. If you use the acne treatment more than recommended, you can do serious damage to your skin.
Finally, make sure you are familiar with the substances used to treat your acne in the product. Some conditions, like pregnancy, require that only some chemicals be used to treat acne. If you are at all concerned about the safety of your chosen acne treatment, discuss the decision with your physician or dermatologist.
Do I need an acne treatment?
If you have acne, you could benefit from an over-the-counter acne treatment. If you have moderate or severe acne, you should probably see a dermatologist before purchasing any acne treatment. Dermatologists have access to stronger acne treatments that may be more appropriate for your skin.
What To Look For in An Acne Treatment
If you have never chosen an acne treatment before, you may not be aware of what you should be looking for in the product. Below we’ve listed your top considerations when buying an acne treatment.
Ingredients
There are a number of acne-treating ingredients that can be used in acne treatment. Most of them are safe to use, but you will want to pay careful attention to the ingredients if you have certain conditions. All ingredients listed here work as an acne treatment for adults and teenagers. The top acne treatment ingredients are:
– Resorcinol: dissolves blackheads and whiteheads
– Benzoyl peroxide: a bacteria killer, this is a very common ingredient in acne treatments.
– Salicylic acid: another extremely common ingredient, salicylic acid dissolves whiteheads and blackheads and can reduce the inflammation that comes with acne.
– Retin-A: unblocks pores
-Azelaic acid strengthens skin cells, which makes it harder for acne to occur.
– Natural ingredients like tea tree oil, green tea extract, chamomile extract, and safe extract: all of these ingredients have proven acne benefits, plus they occur naturally in nature and so are not man-made chemicals.
You will likely see acne treatments that use more than one of the above ingredients. This should not be a problem for most people, as companies will only combine ingredients that do not create any negative side effects when combined.
Number of Products
Often today you will find acne treatment kits that include a number of products. For many people, this is a great acne treatment solution. For one, you will not have to worry about the acne treatment ingredients interacting poorly, as the company has likely already done that research.
Another benefit of buying an acne treatment with a number of products is that you receive more for your money. If you receive at least a cleanser, spot treatment, and moisturizer, your skincare regimen is completed, and you will have likely spent less money than if you purchased each of those products individually.
Size
Often size is a major consideration for any skincare product you purchase. If you are trying a new product then you will likely want to purchase a smaller acne treatment. This way if it doesn’t work well for your skin, you haven’t wasted money. Similarly, for tried and true acne treatments, you may want to purchase a larger size, for you get more value and don’t have to repurchase the treatment as often.
Proven results
When you have acne, especially if you are trying to find an acne treatment for adults, you will want results. Therefore, it will behoove you to purchase an acne treatment that has already created proven results. Most of the time the top acne treatments are the ones from well-known companies, like Proactiv.
If you really like the look of acne treatment from an unproven company, we recommend looking up reviews of your chosen product online. These reviews will give you a good sense of whether the product works as advertised or not. Also, if you choose any of the acne treatments described below, you will not have to worry, for they are all great choices.
Side effects
Because we are talking about using foreign substances on our skin, there may be a chance of side effects. For the most part, over-the-counter acne treatments will have much fewer side effects than acne treatments that must be prescribed by a dermatologist. However, always make sure to read about the side effects and discuss them with your doctor. You don’t want to end up in a worse situation just because you were trying an acne treatment for adults.
Pros and Cons of Acne Treatments
Acne treatments can provide a lot of good to your skin. But, they also come with some cons. Keep both the pros and cons listed below in mind before you purchase a new acne treatment.
PROS
– Acne treatment can work wonders for your skin. They are one of the best ways to prevent acne and they can clear up any current breakouts.
– Treating your acne quickly with the correct products will lower the likelihood of scarring or other skin damage.
– Often acne treatments provide other benefits for your skin, including stopping rosacea and brightening your skin tone.
CONS
– Acne treatments can get expensive if you are purchasing them regularly.
– They can potentially hurt your skin if they are not used correctly.
– What causes acne isn’t always treatable, so your acne may not completely go away with any acne treatment. Although, it will likely get significantly better.
Top Five Best Acne Treatments 2020—Comparison table
Products | Our rating | Products Contained in the Treatment | Dermatologist tested and recommended? | Ingredients | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Cleanse, Tone, and Repair | Yes | Cleanse: Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%, Hyaluronic Acid, Chamomile Tone: Glycolic Acid | Cleanse: 4 oz.
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#2 | Facial Cleanser, Clearing Tonic, Acne Treatment Serum, Clear Pore Serum, Moisture Complex, Free Derm_X Cloth | No | Cleanser: Hydroxy Acids, olive leaf extract
| Cleanser: 2 oz.
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#3 | Face Wash, Clearing Serum, Synergyzer | Yes | Salicylic acid and Mandelic acid (all three products) | Face Wash: 3.3 oz. Serum: 1 oz.
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#4 | Cleanse, Tone, Treat | Yes | Cleanse: Salicylic Acid, lipo hydroxy acid
| Cleanse: 3.4 oz.
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#5 | Facial wash and Acne control spot treatment | Yes | Wash: Lactic acid, green tea, cucumber extract
| Wash: 6.5 oz.
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Top Five Best Acne Treatments 2020—Reviews
1 Proactiv 3-Step Acne Treatment System
If you want the gold-standard acne treatment, then you need to get Proactiv’s 3-step acne treatment system. No company has a better name when it comes to complete acne care. Anyone who’s ever seen their commercials can attest to the number of celebrities they have as spokespeople.
The reason why Proactiv has such a big name is clear when you look at their 3-step acne treatment system. The three steps are cleansing, tone, and repair. Each product includes slightly different acne-treating ingredients. But, they all combine to create a highly effective, dermatologist-tested, and non-comedogenic (which means it won’t clog your pores) product that has been proven to work time and time again.
2 Exposed Skin Care 6 Piece Acne Treatment Kit
Exposed Skin Care may not be the biggest name on this list, but they have the most products in their acne treatment kit. The kit includes six different acne treatment products: the facial cleanser, clearing tonic, acne treatment serum, clear pore serum, moisture complex, and a free Derm-X cloth. Taken together, all six products ensure clean and healthy skin.
Some other positives of Exposed Skin Care’s Six Piece Acne Treatment Kit are the fact that it is a gentle product that even the most sensitive skins can use. Plus, it is sulfate and paraben-free, which also guarantees that it won’t irritate your skin.
3 Neutralyze Anti-Acne Solution Moderate to Severe Acne Treatment Kit
Neutralyze Anti-Acne Solution acne treatment kit is designed for moderate to severe acne. This is nice because often those severity levels are not covered by over-the-counter acne treatments. Like the Proactiv acne treatment kit, this product comes with three separate acne treatments. You receive the face wash, clearing serum, and synergyzer.
Each of Neutralyze’s three acne treatments in the kit is developed to clear your acne, prevent further breakouts, and reduce redness and scarring. This acne treatment kit is also made in the United States, so you can be assured of its quality.
4 La Roche-Posay Effaclar Dermatological Acne Treatment System
Another acne treatment kit with three separate products, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Dermatological Acne Treatment System comes with a medicated gel cleanser, clarifying the solution, and dual-action acne treatment. This acne treatment kit was the winner of the Allure Best of Beauty award for three years running in the Best Acne Treatment category.
La Roche-Posay’s acne treatment system is gentle enough to be used twice daily and doesn’t need to be rinsed off. They guarantee that this three-step process with reduces your acne by 60% in just ten days and that you will be able to see results in a single day. It doesn’t get much better than that.
5 Belli Anti-Blemish Basics Value Set
Belli’s Anti-Blemish Basics Value Set includes a cleanser and spot treatment. This set is perfect for someone who only needs to treat mild acne. It is also the perfect product for the environmentally-conscious consumer, as most of its ingredients are natural. You will find lactic acid, green tea extract, and cucumber extract as part of its ingredients. Since these are natural ingredients, they will not dry out your skin like chemicals might.
Also, Belli’s Anti-Blemish Basics Value Set is gluten-free and has not been tested on animals. Plus, these products are both safe to be used by pregnant women. So, if those pregnancy hormones have caused acne, you can treat your skin knowing that you are keeping your baby safe too.
How To Use Your Acne Treatment
The best way to use your chosen acne treatment is the way it tells you to on the packaging. But, in general, there are a few instructions that are the same no matter what acne treatment you purchase. Follow the steps outlined below in order to get the most out of your acne treatment.
– Use your acne treatment daily. It can’t work if you don’t use it.
– Only use the amount of acne treatment specified on the packaging. As we mentioned above, using too much acne treatment in order to speed up the process could end up causing more breakouts. Usually, the correct amount will be about the size of a pea.
– If your acne treatment does not come with a face wash, make sure the one that you use is designed to be gentle.
– Apply moisturizer before using the acne spot treatments.
– Once the acne treatment for adults and teens has worked, stop using the product. The ingredients are so harsh that they should only be used once and a while.
– Talk to your dermatologist if the acne treatment doesn’t seem to be working, or if you develop a rash or other skin problems while using the product.
Skin Care Tips and Tricks
Proper skin care is an important part of how to control acne. However, not everyone knows how to properly take care of their skin. Below we’ve listed our top tips and tricks for keeping your skin happy and healthy.
– Wear sunscreen! Always, always, always wear sunscreen, your skin will thank you for it.
– Moisturizer is your friend. It keeps everything hydrated, which can help to prevent acne.
– Know whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin and buy the appropriate products for your skin type. There is a lot of information about there about skin types, but you can always talk to your dermatologist if you are confused.
– Exfoliate regularly—but not daily. You want to be gentle with your skin while doing this, but it can help remove the dead skin cells that could block your pores and create an acne breakout.
– Use the products in the correct order. There is a reason why we cleanse before we moisturize.
Final Words
Anyone with acne needs to use an acne treatment. The best acne treatments listed here today are an essential part of saving your skin’s health. Whether you need an acne treatment for adults or are a teenager struggling with frequent acne breakouts, these products can help solve your problems. No one should have to struggle with acne for long. Choose one of these acne treatments today and solve those acne problems for good.